PORTAGE, MI –Portage District Library staff are particularly excited about this year’s summer reading programs for just about all ages.

Thousands of Lego pieces create Lego City, which features trains and Kalamazoo area buildings made out of the colorful plastic building blocks. The Portage District Library will host a week of Lego City in July.Tom Haroldson/Special to the Kalamazoo Gazette

With program and events registration starting Wednesday, June 4, and the big kickoff on Saturday, June 14, more than 3,000 could take part in what will be a summer full of adventures, reading of all genres, the return of the popular Lego City exhibit, learning how to home brew for adults and family times that encourage reading and having fun together.

“I think this is the most excited I have been for any summer program,” said Laura Wright, head of youth services for the Portage library, who for months has been lining up the multitude of programs, activities and events that will last well into August.

Marsha Meyer, head of the Portage library adult services, said summer reading is not just for kids any more, but also adults. With that in mind, the adult summer programs are abundant and adventuresome.

“We don’t have as many adults as children taking part but we are trying to have the parents be good role models for the kids,” Meyer said. “Plus, why should kids have all the fun?”

It all begins from 10 a.m.-noon June 14 for the kickoff party. This year, the kickoff party will be at the library rather than in conjunction with the city of Portage at Celery Flats. That means the library can draw the crowd to the library building itself, and have activities inside that are guaranteed not to get wet.

And the activities for the kickoff are special. The Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum is bringing a load of science-related exhibits and activities for all ages, including stomp rockets, squishy circuits, heat vision cameras and more. Also going on with be a free showing of the movie “Frozen” on the indoor big screens.

“All told there will be 20 different stations plus we’re adding ones for the younger kids,” Wright said. “The Friends of the Library will do a mini- book sale. This one is really going to be fun. It’s a great way to get people in the door.”

New this year for the children’s programs will be a “Little Me” interactive program for preschoolers and their parents that works on early literacy skills along with a “Family Reading Adventure” that is a challenge quest-based program that not only encourages reading but also involves trips, checking out different books and other activities, with buttons handed out for accomplishments.

“We’re hoping to see a lot of kids covered with those buttons,” Wright said. “Families are still encouraged to read together, but we also want to encourage them to do things together as a family.”

For the adult programs, a big twist this year is “Genre jumping,” Meyer said. The idea behind that is to encourage patrons to read something different from what they normally read. From non-fiction to science fiction, the possibilities are endless for switching genres, Meyer said.

“They might like fiction but not realize that biographies can be exciting,” Meyer said. “Maybe they want to read something about Paris, but a fictionalized account. We’re hoping we can stretch people out and introduce them to some beautiful literature.”

Also expected to draw a nice audience this summer for adults will be the Home Brew 101 programs June 21, July 26 and Aug. 3. Local brewers will show how to make beer in your kitchen.

A crowd of all ages is predicted for the return of Lego City July 7-12. The exhibit by the Western Michigan Train and Lego Club last year packed the lower level in for one day, but people were disappointed not to have it around longer. Wright said the week-long exhibit featuring a 25-foot train layout around Kalamazoo and Southwest Michigan buildings made entirely of Legos should satisfy the interest and curiosity.

As always, the summer reading programs will include events every week, most of them free, and prizes for all of the age groups, including preschoolers, elementary age, middle school and teens. Check the library to see if registration is needed for each program.